Referee punched in head during Livonia soccer match dies, suspect charged in attack

An undated photo provided by the Livonia Police Department is of Baseel Abdul-Amir Saad. Saad, a Detroit-area soccer player who police say critically injured a referee by punching him during a match Sunday June 29, 2014, has surrendered to face a felony assault charge. (AP Photo/Livonia Police Department)

DETROIT — The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office charged a 36-year-old Dearborn man Monday in connection with the assault of a soccer referee, who has died today.

John Bieniewicz, who was attacked Sunday at a park in Livonia, died at Detroit Receiving Hospital, said hospital spokesman Alton Gunn, Livonia police and the man’s longtime friend, Jim Acho.

Bieniewicz, 44, was a dialysis technician at Mott Children’s Hospital who lived in Westland with his wife and two sons, said Acho, who was a classmate of Bieniewicz’s at Catholic Central High School.

“I speak for all his friends when I say we are devastated. Crushed. Just a senseless way for a great guy to go out,” Acho said. “He deserved better.”

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According to Acho, Bieniewicz was the only student-athlete in the class of 1988 to letter in both football and basketball at the ultra-competitive Detroit-area parochial school. Acho, who ran a basketball camp with Bieniewicz for four years after high school, said his 6-foot-5 friend would “wow the kids with dunks.”

But much to the surprise of his friends, Bieniewicz gravitated to soccer and fell in love with the sport. He had been a well-respected referee for two decades.

“His friends love him. He lives life to the fullest. Never has a bad day. Ever,” Acho said earlier Tuesday.

Bieniewicz was doing what he loved on Sunday when he was attacked at Mies Park, Acho said.

Bassel Abdul-Amir Saad, 36, was participating in an adult soccer game at about 2 a.m. Sunday at Mies Park, 32305 West Chicago in Livonia, when the referee called a second yellow card, which would lead to Saad’s ejection from the match, according to a release from Maria Miller, assistant prosecuting attorney.

Saad allegedly became upset and punched the referee in the head.

Saad was arraigned Monday afternoon in 16th District Court in Livonia on a charge of assault with the intent to do great bodily harm . His bond was set at $500,000 cash/surety. A preliminary examination of the evidence against him is set for 9 a.m. July 10.

Saad’s lawyer, Brian Berry, said his client was cooperating with police and was not guilty of the charge.

“As the case progresses we expect to learn the cause of the referee’s injuries,” Berry said.

Saad was not at the field when police arrived, Goralski said. The lieutenant said Saad surrendered Monday.

The charge could be amended now that Bieniewicz has died. A message was left with a spokeswoman for the Wayne County prosecutor’s office.